The Miller homes development to the west of Warwick road has been granted after an appeal. You can read the full transcript here.
Unfortunately it appears the planning inspector has agreed to allow the creation of an extra junction along Warwick Road instead of using the Hardwick roundabout. Though this is seen to be adding more housing to an already huge number it is hoped that this development would see off the expansion to the North of Hanwell Fields. This development is livable and in many ways makes sense. As we’ve always said we are not against house building just poorly planned ones. This fits in with the purpose of the Northern Boundary. The hope now, if somewhat of a gamble is that we can argue the 160 houses proposed by Amber and Rapleys to the north (which are very poorly planned) are no longer required as this site exceeds the additional numbers for BAN5.

The Miller homes application has been refused. Many members were in favour of this development as it would have the least impact on the area. Out of all the applications presented to the planning committee this site was the only one that had positive comments and yet was turned down….so much for the Localism Act, so much for the council actually listening to it’s residents. We asked our local councillors to help us fight these developments, did they ? hell no. Except when it affected one of their own. We’ll hear all sorts of rubbish about how they haven’t done that. In reality they should have helped us FIGHT ALL of the developments. Shame on them, they’ve lost my vote in the future.

The Miller homes application was byfar the most thoughtout and well planned of all the applications. I really hope CDC get their just rewards and we see the removal of the planning department, the removal of the Chief Exec for being incompetant, and finally the local councillors for having no backbone and no diginity.

Though this may not be within our area – North of Hanwell Fields, it does show the council have yet again ignored comments from the residents of Banbury, and blatantly chose to forget the democracy of a public consultation with regard to the local plan.

This is a misrepresentation of public rights.

As voters, council tax payers and residents of Banbury we should expect our council to behave in a manner that is fit for purpose, presently I don’t we can say it is. It certainly does not have our interests in mind.

What are we doing about it ? Moira and I attended a meeting with Hanwell Parish Council to discuss what options we may have with regard to both BAN5 and BAN2, the answer is not a lot. We then discussed what we can do about the council, my view is that we shame them in to making changes. To do this we are going to raise a petition against them, hopefully to be timed in accordance with the planning inspector’s visit. I also received a call from the ITV program ‘tonight’ to chat about the possibility of being part of documentary about the effects of planning on local communities. After several more calls and the passing of information I have heard that unfortunately we came close to being chosen but ultimately the producer has decided to feature a local action group in the North of England. I had explained that not only are we effected by such large developments but so is Hanwell Village, as well as other communities around Banbury. Anyway the show is to be broadcast on the 8th August, 7.30pm ITV1. It will be very interesting.

Now the planning has been approved, Persimmon have been given 12 months to finalise their plans and a further 12 months to start the build. As yet Amber have still not submitted an application for the remainder of the BAN5 site. One detail in our favour now Bretch Hill has been approved is the council have their fulfilment of housing numbers, meaning we could argue that their is no need for further approvals.

I still maintain that these site have been approved prematurely to protect the precious South of Banbury, more importantly Saltway.

Next thing we need to do put together some demands for when the construction starts, for instance, a ban of construction traffic before 9.00am on Dukes Meadow Drive, No mud left on the road. Construction vehicles can only park on their designated land and not block DMD. You get the idea, so if any one has any particular concerns about the effects of the construction then please leave comments below.

Things are picking up a pace, Cherwell Council are sticking to this ludicrous idea of planning numbers by insisting the local plan is based on the old, out of date SE plan. This actually says a whole lot more about the council as much as their policy. They are infact the ones that are out of date. What we want to see is a clearly defined local plan that CDC can say with validity has been produced using the right methods, with the right skills for the right reasons.
As we have said time and time again the latest NPPF does not require such a number of houses over such a period of time. Using the NPPF, as they should, CDC only need to produce a small local plan which shows Bankside and Canalside. (these site constitute 12.6 years worth of housing). Our Latest Press Releases say it all.

We are arranging a meeting with the CDC councillors, we are planning for May 11th, 3pm at the Hanwell Fields Community Centre. If you are interested in attending then please contact admin via the contact page

Many of you will have received letters in the post today from CDC about changes to the development at Southam Road. It seems that someone, somewhere has engaged their brain and decided that the site would have a detrimental effect on the visual landscape of Banbury and the surrounding area. The numbers for this development have been reduced from the original 880 houses down to 600. The most significant reduction being on the area to the west of Southam Road (bottom of Dukes Meadow Drive) where the number of houses is now 90 from 370. However it I have also seen that Banbury Town Council are supporting this site to encourage the use of traffic calming on Southam Road. I think a few emails to Banbury Town Council may be in order as well !!!

April 2013 – Pandora/Rapleys latest plan – Reduced housing number of 370 down to 90

To send a letter this letter to Cherwell District Council to oppose the development of 880 houses around Southam Road simply fill in a few details and press send

Dear Tracey Morrissey

Ref: 13/00158/OUT & 13/00159/OUT

I strongly OBJECT to these plans. They breach the councils original agreement for the development of Hanwell Fields that were implemented by the developers at the time of building.
The Hanwell Fields design brief 2007 stipulated the following:
“P2. point 1.3.1 Location.
The land allocated for development at Hanwell Fields is located on the northern extremity of Banbury and will form the new urban edge to this side of town. The objective is to create an urban form and new urban edge which appears organic in character, relating to land form and local colour and therefore specifically distinctive as Banbury”

“P2. point 1.3.2 Prospect.
The topography of the site affords extensive views generally northerly over the Area of High Landscape Value. From the proposed westerly neighbourhood park a 270 degree panorama may be enjoyed. Development should be located so as to enable as many people as possible enjoy these views.”

My house was purchased on the strong understanding that the Northern Boundary of Dukes Meadow Drive would not be built upon. This countryside is enjoyed by many people and it is what enticed us to the area in the first place. If these plans persist then we will no longer be an 'edge of town' development as again we have been assured in the past. I have a right to open space. The previous Cherwell plans, Draft Core Strategy 2010, Options for Growth Document 2008 and the Banbury and North Cherwell Site Allocations – Issues and Options 2006 all state this right to open space. By allowing this development infringes that right.
Cherwell Council should be supporting the principle of the Northern Boundary as they are to the South with developments at Saltway. If this is given the green light then so should the proposed southern developments.

This site is designated an Area of High Visual Impact, the impact of such prominent housing will have a negative effect on both house prices and saleability in an already declining market. Demand for housing in Cherwell is being grossly over judged by CDC. If such a demand was evident then why are so many houses still for sale in and around Banbury. Many on Hanwell Fields for 12 months or more. Also given that Bankside and Canalside have been granted permission to develop housing for nearly 5 years and yet not one brick has been laid. I object to the spoiling of a perfectly good environmental landscape to be replaced by urban sprawl.

The site is unsustainable as it is too far from many aspects of Banbury, it encourages car use on what is considered a very over congested route. Allowing this development does not address or indeed fix this problem. There is a distinct lack of infrastructure to support such a number of houses.

The manner in which this area has been selected has no bearing on the sustainability of the site, there are far better sites to develop housing around Banbury that have been selectively removed from the Cherwell Local Plan, these areas include Land West of Warwick Road and Saltway.

The Traffic Assessment is out of date and unrealistic. Again the placement of the development only supports a greater dependency on car use.
The employment listed in the TA document is Pro Drive. A specialist car engineering company, that employs specialist staff. The TA is therefore suggesting that any potential home owners on the development will also just happen to have the specialist skills required to obtain employment at Pro Drive. If they don't, then car use is required. Saltway would have the largest employment catchment area with both the first (Horton Hospital) and third (CDC) largest employers in Banbury within metres of the site and yet it's ignored and not listed on the CDC Local Plan.

In reality, school pupils will not walk from the Eastern edge of the development to the Academy School on Warwick Road. It is too far, yes I understand their bold and noble view that we must encourage more exercise. However simply look at the traffic congestion at the Hanwell Fields Primary School for guidance on the real world. The primary school location on the planned development encourages car use from parents who won't be living on the estate. Many parents drop the children off at school on the way to work. Children will be dropped off in the lay-by opposite the planned location, whereby they will have to cross a very busy main road. Any accidents on this site will be the responsibility of the developers and the council.

Hanwell Fields is still un-adopted, as a resident I have not received my full requirement of services. Cherwell Council have had 10 years to sort out this site. I have no confidence in them being able to effectively manage or deliver housing and services any better than the appalling treatment we get now.

I would like to discuss these plans with the planning inspector or at least have some sort of representation, I have a right to do this. I also have a right to be supported by the council as ultimately they SHOULD have my concerns in mind and represent me and other Hanwell Fields residents and not the developers. It appears the council have collaborated with the developers to try and get this plan pushed through no matter what the implications or the thoughts of those most affected.

2 Separate applications have been submitted for land East and West of Southam Road (BAN2). There is a total of 880 houses planned, plus school and old peoples accommodation. There are no plans to view as yet just the outline on a map.